The new ejection penalty for hits to the head, set to be installed this college football season, was a continued point of discussion Thursday during the second day of Big Ten Media Days. While Pat Fitzgerald has taken somewhat of a wait-and-see approach to the new rule, the Northwestern coach was open to brainstorming amendments

The new ejection penalty for hits to the head, set to be installed this college football season, was a continued point of discussion Thursday during the second day of Big Ten Media Days.

While Pat Fitzgerald has taken somewhat of a wait-and-see approach to the new rule, the Northwestern coach was open to brainstorming amendments that could make the rule better.

Speaking hypothetically, Fitzgerald discussed the viability of using a yellow card system, similar to the one used in international soccer.

Potentially a player would be issued a yellow card for his first violation of the rule and subsequent violations would result in that player’s ejection. Fitzgerald also added that multiple yellow cards issued to a team could either a result in a warning or penalty.

“Taking away a game is significant and especially if it’s a bang-bang play where the kid is trying to play football,” Fitzgerald said. “I’d rather warn the kid and say this isn’t the hit we want in football.

“That gives you an opportunity to teach, an opportunity to hold guys accountable. In my opinion when you take away a game from a player, that’s significant. That is significant in his experience in college football.”